Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Strong Earthquake Rocks Ecuador, Peru

Ecuador’s
Geophysical Institute said that a magnitude-6.1 temblor occurred at
12:50 pm (1750 GMT) in Napo province, bordering the Peruvian region of
Loreto.

The Ecuadorian scientists said the epicenter was located
at latitude 1.53 south and longitude 77.4 west, and a depth of 16.84
kilometers (10.5 miles).

In Lima, meanwhile, the Geophysical
Institute of Peru reported a magnitude-6.2 quake that struck at 12:49 pm
with its epicenter located 113 kilometers (70 miles) east of Pastaza,
Loreto.

The US Geological Survey estimated the intensity of the
temblor at magnitude-6.0 and located the epicenter at latitude 2.73
south and longitude 75.3 west, or 255 kilometers west-northwest of
Iquitos, Loreto’s capital.

Though there were no reports of
damage, the quake likely rattled nerves in Ecuador, where the population
just marked the anniversary of the massive earthquake of April 16,
2016, which left 670 people dead and caused billions of dollars in
losses.

QUITO – A strong earthquake was felt Tuesday in
the Amazonian regions of Ecuador and Peru, but neither government
received any reports of casualties or serious damage.